PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomi Tsuruta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Hellmuth Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Hellmuth Jr has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tomomi Tsuruta's chin.

Tsuruta
vs
Hellmuth Jr

192 cm
24
255 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

188 cm
31
260 lbs
21 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
King of Fists

Highland Clothing
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomi Tsuruta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Phil Hellmuth Jr!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsuruta moves out of range of the strikes.
Hellmuth Jr lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Tomomi Tsuruta has been cut.
Hellmuth Jr throws an off balance right hand

and Tsuruta counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tsuruta.
Hellmuth Jr is pulling down on Tsuruta's head. It's preventing any offense from Tsuruta, at least for the moment.
Hellmuth Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hellmuth Jr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hellmuth Jr managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tsuruta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tsuruta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hellmuth Jr is adopting a defensive guard.
Tsuruta throwing strikes but missing.
Hellmuth Jr pulls Tsuruta in close to prevent any damage.
Tsuruta scoring with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tsuruta with a nice head shot there.
Tsuruta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta cracks Hellmuth Jr with a solid left hand.
Tsuruta wants to control from the top but Hellmuth Jr keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hellmuth Jr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hellmuth Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hellmuth Jr wants to sweep here but Tsuruta controlling him for the moment.
Tsuruta is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tsuruta landing some decent shots from guard.
We've been hearing that Tsuruta has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hellmuth Jr trying to control the position.
Tsuruta has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tsuruta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tsuruta is working Hellmuth Jr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hellmuth Jr looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hellmuth Jr looking to control.
Tsuruta trying to control but Hellmuth Jr is working from the bottom.
Tsuruta throwing strikes from guard but Hellmuth Jr blocks nicely.
Tsuruta landing some decent shots from guard.
Hellmuth Jr pulls Tsuruta in close to prevent any damage.
Tsuruta postures up in Hellmuth Jr's guard and throws a big left but Hellmuth Jr blocks it.
Hellmuth Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Tsuruta is proving a slippery customer.
Hellmuth Jr seems keen to control Tsuruta's posture.
Tsuruta distracts Hellmuth Jr with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta wants to pass the guard but Hellmuth Jr is keeping the position.
Hellmuth Jr controls Tsuruta momentarily but Tsuruta frees himself.
Hellmuth Jr managing to control the position.
Hellmuth Jr keeping moving, preventing Tsuruta from controlling successfully.
Hellmuth Jr is controlling Tsuruta's posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tsuruta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hellmuth Jr keeping moving, preventing Tsuruta from controlling successfully.
Tsuruta postures up in Hellmuth Jr's guard and throws a big left but Hellmuth Jr blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomi Tsuruta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tomomi Tsuruta's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tsuruta slips a straight right by Hellmuth Jr.
Hellmuth Jr bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tsuruta's head backwards.
Tsuruta staying out of range there.
Tsuruta shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hellmuth Jr! But no joy.
Tsuruta gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A big right from Hellmuth Jr misses.
Tsuruta's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hellmuth Jr connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tsuruta scrambles back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hellmuth Jr lands a big uppercut and Tsuruta crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Tsuruta looks OK. Hellmuth Jr waves Tsuruta back to his feet!

Tsuruta is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hellmuth Jr throws a big shot that misses.
Oh Tsuruta is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A looping hook to the body misses from Hellmuth Jr. Tsuruta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tsuruta seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hellmuth Jr lands a big right hand that sends Tsuruta crashing to the mat! Hellmuth Jr stays standing though and waves Tsuruta back to his feet!
Horrible takedown attempt by Tsuruta or perhaps it was just good defense by Hellmuth Jr, which made it look bad.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hellmuth Jr! But no joy.
Hellmuth Jr misses the jab.
A quick step to the side and Tsuruta tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Hellmuth Jr lands a big right hand that sends Tsuruta crashing to the mat! Hellmuth Jr stays standing though and waves Tsuruta back to his feet!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hellmuth Jr finds Tsuruta's off switch, with a big overhand right that connects perfectly to the side of the head! Tsuruta flops back against the cage, eyes gazing into the distance. Hellmuth Jr lands an unnecessary shot before the referee has time to step in and end the fight. Brutal stuff but I'm sure Tsuruta will be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Phil Hellmuth Jr!
Phil Hellmuth Jr is the new heavyweight champion!
Phil Hellmuth Jr spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.